Rope fastening and adjustment device

ABSTRACT

A rope fastening device includes a body including: (i) a neck that extends along a longitudinal axis; (ii) a connector portion located at a first end of the neck and including a connector adapted to be engaged by an associated article; (iii) a rope attachment portion located at a second end of the neck, the rope attachment portion adapted to be connected to an associated rope. The rope attachment portion includes first and second rope engagement regions including respective first and second rope receiving apertures defined therein such that the body is adapted to be connected to an associated rope free end when the associated rope free end extends through the first rope receiving aperture in a first direction, around the neck, under itself adjacent the neck, and through the second rope receiving aperture in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/394,518 filed Sep. 14, 2016, and the entire disclosure of said prior provisional application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.

BACKGROUND

Known rope fastening and adjustment devices for attaching an eye or other connector structure to a rope have been found to be suboptimal in terms of cost, convenience, ease-of-use, and overall effectiveness. For example, when suspending a swing or other suspended article, or when a need otherwise arises to include an eye or loop or other connector structure on the end of a rope, known rope fastening devices have required users to tie certain complicated knots properly. Such devices have not provided convenient means for adjusting the position of the eye or other connector structure on the rope. Other devices are costly to manufacture, complicated to use, and are subject to wear and breakage. As such, a need has been identified for a new and improved rope fastening and adjustment device that overcomes the above deficiencies and others while providing better overall results.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the present development, a rope fastening device includes a body. The body includes: (i) a neck that extends along a longitudinal axis and including opposite first and second ends; (ii) a connector portion located at the first end of the neck and including a connector adapted to be engaged by an associated article; (iii) a rope attachment portion located at the second end of the neck, the rope attachment portion adapted to be connected to an associated rope. The rope attachment portion includes first and second rope engagement regions that project outwardly from the neck in opposite first and second directions, respectively. The first and second rope engagement regions comprise respective first and second rope receiving apertures defined therein such that the body is adapted to be connected to an associated rope free end when the associated rope free end extends through the first rope receiving aperture in a first direction, around the neck, under itself adjacent the neck, and through the second rope receiving aperture in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

In accordance with another aspect of the present development, a method for connecting a rope fastening device to a rope includes inserting a free end of a rope through a first rope receiving aperture in the rope fastening device from a rear side of the device toward an opposite front side of the device. The free end of the rope is pulled through the first rope receiving aperture and diagonally across a neck of the rope fastening device on the front side of the rope fastening device. The free end of the rope is wrapped around behind the neck adjacent the rear side of the rope fastening device, and the rope free end is brought back to the front side of the rope fastening device and tucked under itself adjacent the neck on the front side of the rope fastening device. The free end of the rope is passed through a second rope receiving aperture from the front side of the device toward the rear side of the device so that the rope free end extends outwardly away from the rear side of the device and such that an X-shaped region is formed by the rope adjacent the neck on the front side of the rope fastening device where the rope free end is tucked under itself adjacent the neck.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present development, a rope fastening system includes a rope fastening device and a rope engaged with the rope fastening device. The rope fastening device includes a body with: (i) a neck that extends along a longitudinal axis and including opposite first and second ends; (ii) a connector portion located at the first end of said neck and including a connector adapted to be engaged by an associated article; (iii) a rope attachment portion located at the second end of the neck. The rope attachment portion of the rope fastening device includes first and second rope engagement regions that project outwardly from the neck in opposite first and second directions, respectively, wherein the first and second rope engagement regions include respective first and second rope receiving apertures defined therein. The rope attachment portion of the body is connected to the rope such that a free end of the rope extends through the first rope receiving aperture in a first direction, around the neck, under itself adjacent the neck, and through the second rope receiving aperture in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an enlarged front view of a rope fastening device formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present development;

FIG. 1A shows a side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a rope fastening device formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present development;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a rope fastening device formed in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present development;

FIG. 4 illustrates the rope fastening device of FIG. 1 operatively connected to an associated rope to provide a rope fastening system according to the present development;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C respectively show first, second, and third steps for operatively securing the rope fastening device of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 to an associated rope to provide the rope fastening system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DEVELOPMENT

The present development relates to a rope fastening or securement and adjustment device that can be used to support a suspended swing or other suspended article, or that can be used to connect with any other associated structure, device, connector, or the like, whether suspended or not suspended. FIG. 1 is an enlarged front view of a rope fastening device D formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present development, and FIG. 1A provides a side view of the device D. The device includes a front side FS and an opposite rear side RS that is a mirror image of the front side FS.

The device D comprises a body B including a generally elongated neck N that extends axially or longitudinally along a longitudinal axis X. The body B further comprises a first portion or connector portion B1 connected to and located at a first or lower end N1 of the neck N. The body B further comprises a second portion or rope attachment portion B2 connected to an opposite second or upper end N2 of the neck N that is axially spaced apart from the first end N1 of the neck N.

The connector portion B1 comprises a main connector or connector C that is adapted to be engaged by any known associated article such as hook, clip, rope, ring, chain, cable, or any other known structure for connecting an associated article to the device D. As shown herein, the connector C comprises a connector body CB that includes or defines an opening O located at the first end N1 of the neck N and to which an associated swing, another associated suspended article, or any other associated suspended or non-suspended article can be connected using any suitable rope, clip(s), hook(s), fastener(s) or other known attachment or fastening device(s) or means. The connector body CB preferably defines the opening O to have a closed or at least substantially closed perimeter defined by the connector body CB as shown herein such that the associated article engaged with the connector body and opening O cannot exit the opening O through any space or break in the connector body CB.

In an alternative embodiment, the connector C comprises a hook, a threaded shank, or any other structure that is adapted to be engaged by an associated rope, clip(s), hook(s), fastener(s) or other known attachment or fastening device(s) or means. For example, FIG. 2 shows a device D2 that is identical in all respects to the device D except as otherwise shown and/or described herein. As such, like reference numbers and letters are used for like components relative to the device D. In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the connector body CB of the device D is replaced by a connector body CB2 that includes a slot SL that opens through the connector body CB2 and that communicates with the opening O. In such case, the connector body CB2 defines a hook structure, and the slot SL allows a rope, a mating hook or eye structure or the like to be received into the opening O and engaged with the connector body CB. If the optional slot SL is included, the device D2 can also include an optional gate G connected to the connector body CB and that pivots, slides, or otherwise moves relative to the connector body CB between an opened position (as shown in FIG. 2) where the gate G is moved away from the slot SL so that the slot SL is unobstructed, and a closed position where the gate G completely or at least substantially blocks the slot SL to prevent escape of any associated rope or connector from the opening O through the slot SL. A spring GS is provided to urge or bias the gate G toward its closed position.

Referring again to FIG. 1, as noted, the body B further comprises a second portion or rope attachment portion B2 located at the second or upper end N2 of the neck N, axially spaced apart from the connector C by the neck N. The rope attachment portion B2 is adapted to be connected to an associated rope, wherein the term rope is intended herein to include any twisted, braided, monofilament, and/or otherwise formed natural and/or synthetic flexible line, cord, string, and/or like structure. The rope attachment portion B2 comprises first and second enlarged rope engagement ears or rope attachment regions RR1,RR2 that project laterally outward from the second end N2 of the neck N in opposite first and second directions, respectively. The first and second rope engagement regions RR1,RR2 are preferably identically conformed and symmetrically defined relative to each other and relative to the neck N about the longitudinal axis X. The first and second rope engagement regions RR1,RR2 comprise respective first and second rope receiving openings or rope receiving apertures RA1,RA2 located therein. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the first and second rope receiving apertures RA1,RA2 can be fully enclosed as shown with a closed perimeter or either one of both of the first and second rope receiving apertures RA1,RA2 can alternatively include an open slot or space in the perimeter thereof.

The device D of FIG. 1 is preferably manufactured and defined as a one-piece construction using a metal rod RD (e.g., steel rod or stainless steel rod or an aluminum rod) of circular cross-section having a diameter in the range of ⅛ inch to ⅜ inch (e.g., ¼ inch), although other cross-section shapes and diameters of the rod RD are contemplated. Alternatively, the device D could be cast as one-piece or otherwise defined or fabricated from a suitable metal or other material such as aluminum or steel, or can be injection molded or otherwise formed from a suitable polymeric material or carved from wood or the like. In another embodiment, the device D is manufactured as a one-piece metal stamped part (a “stamping”) from flat steel plate or another metal. The device D is optionally dipped, painted, sprayed, or otherwise coated with paint, a polymeric or elastomeric coating such as rubberized coating, a metallic coating, or any other desired coating to improve aesthetics, corrosion resistance, to reduce surface roughness, to increase surface friction, or the like.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the rod RD comprises opposite first and second ends RD1,RD2 that are located adjacent and preferably but not necessarily welded to the opposite first and second opposite lateral sides of the neck N by respective welds W1,W2 to completely enclose the respective rope receiving apertures RA1,RA2. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the neck N is defined by first and second adjacent parallel neck segments NS1,NS2 of the rod RD that each extend axially parallel to the longitudinal axis X. The first rod end RD1 is welded to the first neck segment NS1 by the weld W1 and the second rod end RD2 is welded to the second neck segment NS2 by the weld W2. The first and second neck segments NS1,NS2 can optionally also be welded together by a weld W3 for added strength and/or to block access to the opening O between the neck segments NS1,NS2. In this arrangement, the first rope engagement region RR1 is defined by a first bent or curved portion of the rod RD that extends outwardly from the first neck section NS1 toward the first rod end RD1, and the second rope engagement region RR2 is defined by a second bent or curved portion of the rod RD that extends outwardly from the second neck section NS2 toward the second rod end RD2.

In one non-limiting example, the device D comprises an overall length LD of about 3 inches, a maximum rope attachment portion width WD1 of about 1.75 inches at the rope attachment portion B2 (measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X), and a maximum connector portion width WD2 of about 1.5 inches at the connector portion B1 (measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X), but the device D can be provided in any desired size and proportion and it is not intended to be limited to the illustrated dimensions or proportions. The neck N defines a maximum neck width WD3 (measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X) that is less than the rope attachment portion width WD1 and less than the connector width WD2 so that the device D defines a generally hourglass or barbell shape with enlarged opposite axial ends provided respectively by the connector portion B1 and the rope attachment portion B2 connected together by the central narrow neck N.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a rope fastening device D′ formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present development. The device D′ is identical to the device D except as otherwise shown or described herein, and like reference characters including a primed (′) suffix are used for like or corresponding components as between the various embodiments.

For the device D′, the opposite rod ends RD1′,RD2′ are preferably not welded to the neck N′ but are instead arranged to extend axially parallel to the respective neck segments NS1′,NS2′ of the neck N so that they define or form part of the neck N′ so that the neck N′ of the device D′ is defined by and comprises four separate segments NS1′,NS2′,NS3′,NS4′ of the rod RD′ that are arranged to be parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis X, and that lie successively adjacent each other. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the neck N′ for the device D′ does not include any welds, but some or all of the neck segments NS1′-NS4′ can optionally be welded to an adjacent neck segment or segments NS1′-NS4′ or otherwise interconnected.

FIG. 4 illustrates the rope fastening device D of FIG. 1 operatively connected to an associated rope R to provide a rope fastening system RS according to the present development comprising the rope R and the fastening device D (or alternatively the device D′) operatively secured to the associated rope R. FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C respectively show first, second, and third steps for operatively securing the rope fastening device D of FIG. 1 or the device D′ of FIG. 3 to the rope R to provide the rope fastening system RS of FIG. 4. FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5A-5C are explained with reference to the device D, but those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the description also applies to the device D′.

In the illustrated example, the rope R is connected at one end to a support structure such as a tree ST or the like, but the rope R can be connected to any other structure or not connected to any other structure without departing from the overall scope and intent of the present development. The rope R includes a free end FE to which an associated swing or other associated article is to be attached by connecting the swing or other article to the connector C of the device D as described above using an associated coupling device CD (FIG. 4) such as a hook, clip, rope, ring, chain, cable, or any other known structure engaged with the connector body CB and opening O thereof. As shown, the associated coupling device CD includes a tether TH connected thereto for engaging the associated swing or other article. Accordingly, it is desirable to operatively secure the rope fastening device D (or D′) to the rope free end FE as described herein.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, to install the device D on the rope free end FE, the free end FE is inserted into the first rope receiving aperture RA1 from the rear side RS of the device toward the front side FS of the device D, and free end FE is then pulled through the first rope receiving aperture RA1 and diagonally across the neck N on the front side FS of the device D as shown in FIG. 5A with a dashed line to ensure that the free end FE is long enough to be operatively engaged with the device D as described herein. The free end FE is then wrapped around behind the neck N adjacent the rear side RS of the device D as further shown by the dashed line in FIG. 5A. As further shown by the dashed line in FIG. 5B, the rope free end FE is brought back to the front side FS of the device D and then tucked under itself adjacent the neck N on the front side FS of the device D and then passed through the second rope receiving aperture RA2 from the front side FS of the device toward the rear side RS of the device so that the rope free end FE extends outwardly away from the rear side RS of the device D.

The location of the device D on the rope R can be changed by controlling the length of the free end FE of the rope R that extends through the second rope receiving aperture RA2, e.g., to adjust the height of a swing or other article to be suspended from the device D. Once the device D is operatively installed and operatively positioned on the rope R at the desired location as shown in FIG. 5C and, the rope R and the device D are then pulled away from each other in opposite directions to tighten or “snug” the connection and constrict the rope R tightly about the neck N, at which time the device D is be securely operatively attached to the rope R and will not slide along the length of the rope R when the rope R is tensioned by the weight or force of a swing or object connected to the connector portion C of the device D. A swing or other article to be suspended from or otherwise connected to the rope R is secured to the connector C and connector opening O of the device D by any known structure or means such as an associated coupling device DC or by a direct connection with a knotted rope or using a chain the like.

The weight of the swing or other suspended article and/or any pulling force exerted on the device D serves to further tighten the connection of the device D to the rope R. In particular, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the device D allows for creation of an X-shaped overlapped region XR in the rope free end FE adjacent the front side FS (or alternatively adjacent the rear side RS) of the neck N, where the rope free end FE is tucked under itself adjacent the neck N. The device D thus allows any user to easily form this X-shaped region XR in the rope free end FE. The X-shaped region XR is self-tightening in that locking force or locking pressure is exerted by the X-shaped region XR against the neck N of the body B when tension force is exerted on the device D by opposite pulling forces exerted on the rope attachment portion B2 of the body B through the rope R on one end and on the connector portion B1 of the body B on the other end of the device D, wherein the locking force in the X-shaped region XR increases as the tension force applied to the device D increases. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the X-shaped region XR can alternatively be formed adjacent the opposite rear side RS of the device D by engaging the rope free end FE with the device D in the opposite direction as described above, or by flipping over the device D such that the rear side RS becomes the front side FS and vice versa.

As noted, the device D need not be used only for a swing or other suspended article. Instead, the device can be used in any application where it is desirable to operatively connect any associated connector, rope, chain, cable, coupling device or the like to a free end FE of a rope R.

The present development has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present development pertains, and it is intended that the claims be construed as broadly as possible to encompass all such modifications and alterations while preserving the validity of the claims. 

1. A rope fastening device comprising: a body comprising: (i) a neck that extends along a longitudinal axis and including opposite first and second ends; (ii) a connector portion located at said first end of said neck and comprising a connector adapted to be engaged by an associated article; (iii) a rope attachment portion located at said second end of said neck, said rope attachment portion adapted to be connected to an associated rope; wherein said rope attachment portion comprises first and second rope engagement regions that project outwardly from said neck in opposite first and second directions, respectively, and wherein said first and second rope engagement regions comprise respective first and second rope receiving apertures defined therein such that said body is adapted to be connected to an associated rope free end when the associated rope free end extends through said first rope receiving aperture in a first direction, around said neck, under itself adjacent the neck, and through said second rope receiving aperture in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
 2. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connector comprises a connector body including an opening defined therein.
 3. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said connector body defines said opening to have a perimeter that is closed.
 4. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said connector body comprises a slot defined therein that opens through a perimeter of said opening through the connector body.
 5. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a gate connected to said connector body and adapted to move between a closed position where said gate blocks said slot and an opened position where said gate is moved away from said slot such that said slot is opened and communicates with said opening when said gate is located in its opened position.
 6. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body comprises a one-piece metal rod formed to include said neck, said connector portion, and said rope attachment portion.
 7. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said neck comprises first and second neck sections of said rod that extend parallel relative to each other and that are located adjacent each other.
 8. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said rod comprises opposite first and second rod ends that are respectively welded to the first and second neck sections.
 9. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second neck sections are connected together.
 10. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said neck comprises four sections of said rod that extend parallel to each other and that are arranged successively adjacent each other.
 11. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body comprises a one-piece stamped metal structure.
 12. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second rope receiving apertures are respectively defined in said first and second rope engagement regions to each have a closed perimeter.
 13. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body is coated with a polymeric coating.
 14. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the rope attachment portion comprises a maximum rope attachment portion width WD1 measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; the connector portion comprises a maximum connector portion width WD2 measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; the neck defines a maximum neck width WD3 measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X; and the maximum neck width WD3 is less than both the maximum rope attachment portion width WD1 and the maximum connector portion width WD2 so that the device defines a generally hourglass shape comprising enlarged opposite axial ends defined respectively by said rope attachment portion and said connector portion and comprising said neck located between and connecting said enlarged opposite axial ends.
 15. The rope fastening device as set forth in claim 8, wherein: the first rope engagement region is defined by a first bent portion of the rod that extends outwardly from the first neck section toward the first rod end; and, the second rope engagement region is defined by a second bent portion of the rod that extends outwardly from the second neck section toward the second rod end.
 16. A method for connecting a rope fastening device to a rope, said method comprising: inserting a free end of a rope through a first rope receiving aperture in the rope fastening device from a rear side of the device toward an opposite front side of the device; pulling the free end of the rope through the first rope receiving aperture and diagonally across a neck of the rope fastening device on the front side of the rope fastening device; wrapping the free end of the rope around behind the neck adjacent the rear side of the rope fastening device; bringing the rope free end back to the front side of the rope fastening device and tucking the free end under itself adjacent the neck on the front side of the rope fastening device; passing the free end of the rope through a second rope receiving aperture from the front side of the device toward the rear side of the device so that the rope free end extends outwardly away from the rear side of the device and such that an X-shaped region is formed by the rope adjacent the neck on the front side of the rope fastening device where the rope free end is tucked under itself adjacent the neck.
 17. A rope fastening system comprising: a rope fastening device and a rope engaged with the rope fastening device; said rope fastening device comprising a body including: (i) a neck that extends along a longitudinal axis and including opposite first and second ends; (ii) a connector portion located at said first end of said neck and comprising a connector adapted to be engaged by an associated article; (iii) a rope attachment portion located at said second end of said neck; said rope attachment portion of the rope fastening device comprising first and second rope engagement regions that project outwardly from said neck in opposite first and second directions, respectively, said first and second rope engagement regions comprising respective first and second rope receiving apertures defined therein; wherein said rope attachment portion of the rope fastening device is connected to the rope such that a free end of the rope extends through said first rope receiving aperture in a first direction, around said neck, under itself adjacent the neck, and through said second rope receiving aperture in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. 